Spring cleaning!

It's the first visit of the new year to the Outer Banks, and what a gorgeous day to arrive. 75 degrees this afternoon and sun all up and down the beach.

I am here to spring clean the house this week and get it ready for the rental season. I talked to a yard guy today about keeping the grass under control for me, and he said he's got 15 guys working every day getting houses and commercial property ready. No matter what, it seems, folks are going to take a vacation this year, and plenty of them are going to head to the Outer Banks.

I wonder what the restaurants are doing to strategize about serving families in this nasty economy. A bunch of folks down here I talked to at the end of the year said that the convential wisdom is that people will still come to the beach, but maybe not go out to eat as much, just cook at the house and chill.

What's interesting to me is that so many of the modestly priced places down here seem to do well no matter what.....

An early Thanksgiving post: Lovely day in Kitty Hawk

Near 60 degrees here today. Just got to the beach with mom after arriving in Norfolk from San Francisco Saturday night.

For all of the economic woes, there is still a sense of fun and energy about Thanksgiving at the beach. The bypass is still busy with cars.  You get here and you just can't help but feel happy.

We immediately drove to Mama Kwan's to pick up a couple of tuna wraps (awesome) for lunch and the joint was jumping. Driving back to the 3.5 Mp from there we passed two major commercial construction projects.

The Outer Banks is such an amazing part of the world...downturns come, and this one will go. And this place will stay as beautiful and vibrant as ever.

Tomorrow I will find a Thanksgiving picture of some kind to post...

Studying the wild Corolla horses

Have you ever been lucky enough to see the beautiful wild horses on Corolla? The Va. Pilot has a good story about a study of the herd ...

Duck Donuts: Awesome, so I am told

 

My brother and mother swear by Duck Donuts. Absolutely fresh and dipped in whatever you like before your very eyes. Me, I don't eat 'em!

http://www.duckdonuts.com/

First day of fall, in Kitty Hawk

Amazing to be here on the first day of fall. It's been a windy week; you can feel the change of pace setting in.

I am here with my mom. My friends Alison and Lisa and Connie came down for a couple of days. We had lunch -- takeout -- from Mama Kwan's and Pigman. They all loved the Mama Kwan's fresh tuna wrap as much as I do (you will dream about it when you are away from the Outer Banks). And they really liked Pigman barbecue too -- yum.

The beginning of fall is amazing here. If you walk on the beach after 5 it is mostly just you and the ocean. Today there was just one guy in the water, kite surfing. The wind lifted him up and over the waves. At points he achieved lift off and was actually airborne.

So cool.

Cool story today in the Norfolk Va.-Pilot about the Bodie Island Lighthouse being in a contest for free repairs.

(Photo from the Virginian-Pilot)

A busy summer on the Outer Banks

The Norfolk Va.-Pilot had a good article this week on tourism on the Outer Banks this summer.

Basically, it said that folks are still coming to the beach in droves despite the downturn in the economy and high gas prices.